Marine STS Bunker Hose: The "Super Connector" of the "Maritime Energy Artery"-Part 3

III. Work Process and Application Scenarios

The Marine STS Bunker Hose usually operates as part of a single-point mooring (SPM) system, and the process is as follows:

1. Berthing: Large oil tankers (VLCC/ULCC) approach the SPM floating platform in the sea and are securely moored to the rotating platform of the platform via cables. The rotating platform enables the oil tankers to freely rotate around the platform like a wind vane, always remaining in the position with the least force.

2. Connection: The operator uses the workboat to pull the end of the STS oil delivery hose (usually equipped with a quick connector) that has been pre-installed on the buoyant cylinder to the oil tanker, and then connects it to the manifold of the oil tanker.

3. Oil transportation: After confirming that the connection is correct, start the pumping station. The oil will be pumped through the submarine pipeline to the SPM float, and then safely transported to the oil tanker (for loading) or discharged from the oil tanker (for unloading) via the STS hose.

4. Disconnection: After the operation is completed, empty the residual oil in the hose, disconnect the quick connector, and the oil tanker will release its mooring and leave.

Main Application Scenarios:

Large oil tanker desilting: Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) have too deep draft and cannot directly dock at shallow-water ports. They need to unload part of the crude oil through SPM and STS hoses in the deep water area onto smaller oil tankers, which will then be transported to the port by the smaller tankers.

Maritime transfer: Directly transfer fuel or goods between two ships that are either side-by-side or in close proximity. The STS hose is the key to connecting the two ships.

Ports far from the coastline: To protect the sensitive coastal ecological environment, the loading and unloading facilities are constructed in the deep-water area far from the shore, and connected to the shore storage tanks through the SPM system and submarine pipelines.

Offshore oilfield: Transports the crude oil stored on the floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO) to the shuttle oil tankers.